Drop seat closure for outerwear garment

ABSTRACT

The disclosed drop seat closure for an outerwear garment includes a tail portion on the rear of the upper body portion of the garment which projects downwardly beneath the waist region of the garment. A seat flap on the lower body portion of the garment extends transversely between opposed outer side seams and projects upwardly into the waist region and overlies the tail portion. An elastic waist band extends substantially over the full width of the seat flap along the free upper edge thereof. Complementary belt portions are respectively attached to the opposed ends of the elastic waist band of the seat flap and belt closure at the front of the garment secures the seat flap in closure position and stretches the waist band into relatively snug engagement in the waist region. And zippers close the side edges of the seat flap along the opposed side seams in the closure position of the flap.

United States Patent 1191 Grey Dec. 10, 1974 [54] DROP SEAT CLOSURE FOR OUTERWEAR Primary ExaminerH. Hamptom Hunter GARMENT Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Andrus, Sceales, Starke [76] lnventor: Mary Evelyn Grey, Rt. 2, Sawa" Ladysmith, Wis. 54848 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1973 The disclosed drop seat closure for an outerwear garment includes a tail portion on the rear of the upper [21] Appl N 4l0175 body portion of the garment which projects down- I wardly beneath the waist region of the garment. A seat [52] US. Cl. 2/79 flap on the lower body portion of the garment extends [51] Int. Cl A4ld 13/02 transversely between opposed outer side seams and Field of Search 78 78 78 projects upwardly into the waist region and overlies 2/78 C, 78 D, 227 the tail portion. An elastic waist band extends substantially over the full width of the seat flap along the free [56] References Cited upper edge thereof. Complementary belt portions are UNITED STATES PATENTS respectively attached to the opposed ends of the elas- 1 112 720 10/1914 Powell 2/79 tic Waist band of the flap and closure at the l:536:304 5/1925 Morrison 2/79 from of the garment Secures the flap in closure 1,965,213 7/1934 Bernstein.... 2/79 Position and Stretches the Waist band intorelatively 2,228,624 1/1941 Frank 2/79-x snug engagement in the waist g d zipp rs 2,357,532 9/1944 Menzi n 2/79 close the side edges of the seat flap along the opposed side seams in the closure position of the flap.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DROP SEAT CLOSURE FOR OUTERWEAR GARMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a drop seat closure for an outerwear garment such as a snowmobile suit. 7

Cold weather outerwear garments such as snowmobile suits and the like are generally not the easiest garments to don or remove. Hence, the provision of a drop seat closure in such a garment can be a real convenience. It is generally an object of this invention to provide a drop seat closure for a one-piece cold weather outerwear garment which is openable and closable with relative ease, generally seals against all inclemencies of weather, and will not detract from the appearance of the garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally according to the invention, the drop seat closure for an outerwear garment comprises a tail portion on the rear of an upper body portion of the gar ment and extending generally between the opposed side seams of the garment and projecting downwardly to a location beneath the waist region and approaching the crotch of the garment. A seal flap on the lower body portion of the garment and extending transversely between the opposed side seams and projecting upwardly into the waist region, generally overlies the tail portion. An elastic waist band extends substantially over the full width of the seat flap along the free upper edge thereof. Complementary belt portions are respectively attached to the opposed ends of the elastic waist band of the seat flap and are adopted for belt closure of the front of the garment. Closure of the belt portions in the waist region of the garment secures the seat flap in closure position and stretches the waist band into relatively snug engagement in the waist region. And zippers along the opposed side seans of the lower body portion of the garment effect closure at the opposed sides of the seat flap in the closure position of the flap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best mode for carrying out the invention as described hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a generally rear perspective view of a one piece outerwear garment and shows the drop seat construction of this invention in a closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 1 and shows the drop seat of the garment in a partially open condition; and

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the garment with a portion broken away to better show details of the drop seat construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the one-piece outerwear garment 1 is suited for outdoor winter activity such as snowmobiling and includes the usual upper body portion 2 above the waist region 3 and lower body portion 4 beneath the waist region. The upper body portion 2 contains the sleeves 5 and may be outfitted with a hood 6 at the upper end thereof as shown. The lower body portion 4 contains the pant legs 7 each of which may be provided with a zipper 8 along the opposed outer side seams 9 and 10 of the garment. The zippers 8 generally extend downwardly from a location beneath the wearers knee to the lower leg opening of the respective pant legs 7, and when open or unzippered provide for the donning and removal of the garment over the generally bulky footwear usually worn when engaging in outdoor winter activity. The garment 1 is intended to protect the wearer from the elements and so is constructed with a generally impervious outer shell provided with a suitable insulation type lining.

According to the invention, the lower body portion 4 of garment l is provided with a drop seat closure including the seat flap 11. The seat flap 11 extends transversely between the opposed outer side seams 9 and 10, and projects upwardly into the waist region 3 of the garment. The seat flap 11 generally overlaps a relatively long tail portion 12 which projects downwardly from the upper body portion 2 of the garment 1 inside of the seat flap to a location beneath the waist region 3 and approaching the crotch 13. The tail portion 12 extends transversely between the opposed side seams 9 and 10, and the projecting free end thereof is provided with an arcuate configuration to generally preclude bunching-inside the closure.

The free or upper edge of the seat flap 11 is provided with an elastic waist band 14 which extends substantially over the full width of the flap. Opposed complementary belt portions 15 and 16 are attached to the opposite ends of the flap waist band 14 and are adapted for buckling at the front of the garment 1. Thus, the elastic waist band 14 forms an intermediate portion or continuation of the belt portions 15 and 16 which upon belt closure snugly secures the upper edge of the seat flap 11 relative to the waist region 3 of the garment 1.

Along the opposed side seams 9 and 10, the garment l is provided with side zippers 17 to provide for side closure of the seat flap 11. The zippers 17 extend upwardly and terminate immediately beneath the waist band 14. To open the seat flap 11 of the drop seat closure, the wearer simply unbuckles the belt portions 15 and 16 and opens or unzips the side zippers 17, all being readily accessible to the wearer of garment l. The side zippers l7 and belt portions 15 and 16 are generally equally as accessible to effect closure of the seat flap 11.

The relatively long tail portion 12 projecting downwardly inside the seat flap 11 from the upper body portion 2 of the garment 1 assures warmth and provides cushioning in the lower regions of the wearersback and seat. The snug fit provided across the back of the garment 1 immediately above the tail portion 12 by the elastic waist band 14 at the upper edge of the seat flap 11 upon belt closure generally seals or precludes. entry of wind and moisture. The drop seat closure of this invention generally avoids unsightly bulging or bunching of material which could detract from the overall appearance of the garment.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In a one-piece cold weather outerwear garment having upper and lower body portions joined in the waist region and the lower body portion having opposed generally vertically extending side seams, a drop seat closure comprising a tail portion on the rear of the upper body portion and extending generally between the opposed side seams and projecting downwardly beneath the waist region to a location approaching the crotch of the garment to thus generally cover the buttock region of the wearer, a seat flap on the lower body portion and extending transversely between the pposed side seams and projecting upwardly into the waist region, said seat flap upon closure overlying said tail portion, an elastic waist band extending substantially over the full width of the seat flap along the free upper edge thereof, complementary belt portions respectively attached to the opposed ends of the elastic waist band of the seat flap, said belt portions being adapted for belt closure at the front of the garment with belt closure stretching the waist .band into relatively snug engagement in the waist region and securing the seat flap in closure position, and zipper means to effect closure of the seat flap along the opposed side seams of the garment.

2. A drop seat closure for a one-piece cold weather outerwear garment, said garment having upper and lower body portions joined in the waist region thereof and the lower body portion having opposed generally vertically extending side seams, said closure comprising a seat flap on the lower body portion of the garment and extending transversely between the opposed outer side seams and projecting upwardly upon closure into the waist region, a tail portion on the upper body portion of the garment and extending generally between the opposed side seams and projecting downwardly beneath the waist region to underlie the seat flap in the buttock region of the wearer, an elastic waist band extending substantially over the full width of the seat flap along the upper edge thereof, complementary belt portions attached to the opposed ends of the elastic waist band of the seat flap and adapted for belt closure at the front of the garment to secure the seat flap in closure position and stretch the waist band to effect a relatively snug engagement in the waist region of the garment, and zipper means along the opposed side seams of the lower body portion of the garment to close the side edges of the seat flap in the closure position of the flap. 

1. In a one-piece cold weather outerwear garment having upper and lower body portions joined in the waist region and the lower body portion having opposed generally vertically extending side seams, a drop seat closure comprising a tail portion on the rear of the upper body portion and extending generally between the opposed side seams and projecting downwardly beneath the waist region to a lOcation approaching the crotch of the garment to thus generally cover the buttock region of the wearer, a seat flap on the lower body portion and extending transversely between the opposed side seams and projecting upwardly into the waist region, said seat flap upon closure overlying said tail portion, an elastic waist band extending substantially over the full width of the seat flap along the free upper edge thereof, complementary belt portions respectively attached to the opposed ends of the elastic waist band of the seat flap, said belt portions being adapted for belt closure at the front of the garment with belt closure stretching the waist band into relatively snug engagement in the waist region and securing the seat flap in closure position, and zipper means to effect closure of the seat flap along the opposed side seams of the garment.
 2. A drop seat closure for a one-piece cold weather outerwear garment, said garment having upper and lower body portions joined in the waist region thereof and the lower body portion having opposed generally vertically extending side seams, said closure comprising a seat flap on the lower body portion of the garment and extending transversely between the opposed outer side seams and projecting upwardly upon closure into the waist region, a tail portion on the upper body portion of the garment and extending generally between the opposed side seams and projecting downwardly beneath the waist region to underlie the seat flap in the buttock region of the wearer, an elastic waist band extending substantially over the full width of the seat flap along the upper edge thereof, complementary belt portions attached to the opposed ends of the elastic waist band of the seat flap and adapted for belt closure at the front of the garment to secure the seat flap in closure position and stretch the waist band to effect a relatively snug engagement in the waist region of the garment, and zipper means along the opposed side seams of the lower body portion of the garment to close the side edges of the seat flap in the closure position of the flap. 